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Math and science::Theory of Computation::Lambda calculus

β-reduction

Beta reduction is a term that encompasses 3 relations defined over the set of all lambda terms: single-step, multi-step and equality.

β-reduction, single step, \( \rightarrow_{\beta} \)

Let \( M, U \) and \( L \) be lambda terms.

The following 2 rules define the true entries of the single step beta reduction relation.

Basis
\( (\lambda .\, M) U \rightarrow_{\beta} M[x :=U] \)
Compatibility
If \( M \rightarrow_{\beta} U \), then:
  • \( ML \betaReduction UL \)
  • [\( ? \; \rightarrow_{\beta} \; ? \) ]
  • [\( ? \; \rightarrow_{\beta} \; ? \) ]

the syntax \( [x :=U] \) refers to the lambda terms that results from substituting all occurrences of the unbound variable \( x \) by the term \( U \). This syntax in some sense requires some "work".

There are names given to parts of the above definition:

[What1?] and [what2?]

If a subterm of a lambda expression matches the left-hand side of the basis rule above, it is called a [ what1? ]. This name comes from from reducible expression. The subterm on the right-hand side, \( M[x:=U] \), is called the [ what2? ] of the [what1].

Multi-step reduction extends the single step relation by augmenting it with reflexivity and transitivity. Before we get to multi-step reduction, we describe the following definition:

Reduction sequence (personal definition)

A reduction sequence is a sequence of lambda terms \( (W_n)_{n=0}^{N} \) such that for every \( n \in \mathbb{N}, \, n \lt N \), we have \( W_n \betaReduction W_{n+1} \). The sequences starts at \( W_0 \) and ends at \( W_N \).

β-reduction, multi-step, \( \twoheadrightarrow_{\beta} \)

Let \( M \) and \( U \) be lambda terms.

\( M \) reduces through multi-step β-reduction to \( U \) iff [...].

Note: the possibility of \( n = 0 \) for multi-step reduction is what introduces the quality of reflexivity to the relation.

For multi-step β-reduction, it is possible for \( M \rightarrow_{\beta} U \) to be true while \( U \rightarrow_{\beta} M \) is false. Below, we extend the multi-step β-reduction with symmetry and arrive at β-equality, an equivalence relation. First, another assisting definition.

Bi-directional reduction sequence (personal definition)

A bi-directional reduction sequence is a sequence of lambda terms \( (W_n)_{n=0}^{N} \) such that for every \( n \in \mathbb{N}, \, n \lt N \) either \( W_n \betaReduction W_{n+1} \) or \( W_{n+1} \betaReduction W_{n} \).

β-equality, \( =_{\beta} \)

Let \( M \) and \( U \) be lambda terms.

\( M \) and \( U \) are said to be β-equal iff [...].

β-convertable is sometimes said instead of β-equal.